This list is a compilation of contract bridge players, writers, administrators and personalities who have been recognized for their skills, achievements or contributions to the game as identified by various specific sources.

People recognized by bridge organizations

American Contract Bridge League

Hall of Fame

+ ACBL Hall of Fame members († deceased)Yearinducted Name Category Citationlink Videolink 2011 von Zedtwitz"von Zedtwitz Award". FPAB. Retrieved 2014-12-15. 2002 † Open"Open Award". FPAB. Retrieved 2014-12-15. 2012 † von Zedtwitz 1995 † Open 2006 Open 2010 Open 1995 † Open 2000 † Open 1997 † von Zedtwitz |align="center"|2006|| † ||von Zedtwitz ||align="center"| || |align="center"|2002|| † ||Blackwood"Blackwood Award". FPAB. Retrieved 2014-12-15. ||align="center"| || 1995 † Open 1995 † Open 1964 † Open |align="center"| || 1996 † Open 1998 Open |align="center"| || 1998 † Open 2000 † Open |align="center"|2003|| † ||Blackwood ||align="center"| || 2001 † Open 1997 † Open 1997 † Open |align="center"|2002|| † ||Open ||align="center"| || 1998 † Open |align="center"|2006|| † ||Blackwood ||align="center"| || 1999 † Open |align="center"| || 2009 † von Zedtwitz 1964 † Open 1999 † von Zedtwitz 2003 Open 1999 Open |align="center"| || 2004 † von Zedtwitz 2002 † Open 1997 † Blackwood 2010 † von Zedtwitz 1997 † Open 1965 † Open |align="center"| || 1996 † Open |align="center"| || 1995 † Open |align="center"| || 1996 † Open 2004 Blackwood 2001 von Zedtwitz 2005 † Open 2011 Blackwood 2009 Open 1998 † von Zedtwitz 2012 † Open 2000 † Open 1965 † Open

2001 † Open 1999 † Open |align="center"|2008|| † ||Blackwood ||align="center"| || 2007 Open 2004 † von Zedtwitz 2003 † Open 2012 Blackwood 1997 † Open 2005 † Blackwood 2003 Open |align="center"|1996|| † ||Open ||align="center"| || 1996 † Blackwood |align="center"|1998|| † ||Open ||align="center"| || 2001 † von Zedtwitz 2001 † Open 2008 Open 2009 † Blackwood 2008 Open 1998 † Open 1997 † Open 2003 Open 1997 †Open 2015Open 2015Blackwood | 2016 †Open 2016Open 2017Open 2017 †von Zedtwitz 2017Blackwood 2000 † Blackwood 2002 † Open 1995 † Open 2004 Blackwood 2000 † Open 2007 Open 2002 † von Zedtwitz 2002 † von Zedtwitz 1966 † Open 2000 † von Zedtwitz |align="center"|2005|| † ||von Zedtwitz ||align="center"| || 1996 † Open 1966 † Open 1996 † von Zedtwitz |align="center"|1999|| † ||Open ||align="center"| || 1995 † Open 2000 † Open 2002 † Open 2007 Open 2001 Open 1996 † Open |align="center"|2010|| † ||Blackwood ||align="center"| || 2003 † von Zedtwitz |align="center"|1998|| †||Blackwood ||align="center"| || 2001 † Blackwood 1998 † Open 1964 † Open |align="center"| || 1966 † Open 1999 † Open 1999 Blackwood 2004 Open 1995 Open 2005 Open 1965 † Open 2001 † Open 2013 von Zedtwitz   |align="center"|2013 || † ||Blackwood || || 2014 Open 2014 Open 2014 † von Zedtwitz 2014 Blackwood 2018 Open 2018 Open 2018 Open 2018 † von Zedtwitz 2019 Open 2019 Open 2019 Open 2019 † von Zedtwitz 2019 Blackwood 2020 Open 2020 Open 2020 † vonZedwitz 2020 † von Zedtwitz 2020 † von Zedwitz 2020 Blackwood 2020 Blackwood

The first bridge Hall of Fame was inaugurated by The Bridge World in 1964 and invested nine members between then and 1966 after which it ceased sponsorship. The American Contract Bridge League adopted the concept to recognize the achievements and contributions of those residing in its territory (USA, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda) and inaugurated its own Hall of Fame"Hall of Fame". ACBL (acbl.org). Retrieved 2014-12-15. in 1995 by accepting the original nine and adding eight others that year."ACBL Hall of Fame". Annually thereafter, new members have been added in as many as three award categories. Open Award – "living individuals who have achieved prominence in the game of bridge and have an outstanding tournament record"[ACBL Hall of Fame Charter]. "American Contract Bridge League Hall of Fame Operating Procedures" . ACBL. March 2011. Retrieved 2014-12-15. von Zedtwitz Award – "living or deceased individuals who have achieved prominence in the game of bridge and have an outstanding tournament record but who may not have been in the limelight for a significant period of time" (20 people in 19 years to 2014) Blackwood Award – "individuals who have contributed greatly to the game of bridge without necessarily being world class players" (19 people to 2014)

In 2008, ACBL established the Foundation for the Preservation and Advancement of Bridge (FPAB) "to support the preservation of bridge history, to recognize individuals for their excellence and service to the game of bridge and to inspire the participation of youth through scholarships and grants."Foundation for the Preservation and Advancement of Bridge. FPABridge.org. Retrieved 2014-12-15.

Most influential personalities

+ ACBL's Most Influential Personalities(† deceased, ‡ ACBL Hall of Fame member)RankName1 † ‡2 † ‡3 †4 † ‡5 ‡6 7 ‡8 † ‡9 † ‡10 † ‡11 †12 † ‡13  14 † ‡15 † ‡16 † ‡17 18 † ‡19 ‡2021 †222324 24 25 † ‡26 † ‡27 27 †282930 ‡31 † ‡32 † ‡33 † ‡34 † ‡35 ‡363738 †39 ‡40 † ‡40 41 † ‡42 † ‡43 44 ‡45 46 †47 † ‡48 †49 † ‡50 †51 51 †52 †53 † ‡

In 2012, the American Contract Bridge League celebrated the 75th anniversary of its creation by the merger of the American Bridge League and the United States Bridge Association in October 1937.Morehead, Albert (10 October 1937). "LEAGUES MERGE: Many Tournaments May Be Affected by the New Combination". The New York Times. In partial recognition, the League published a list of the 52 most influential personalities during its history.The ACBL announced its selections in four issues of its membership magazine Bridge Bulletin. February 2012, pp. 22–25. March 2012, pp. 22–25. April 2012, pp. 14–17. May 2012, p. 63.

Criteria included: contributions to bidding theory that have stood the test of time; contributions to bridge literature of enduring importance; contributions to law, regulation or administration making bridge more accessible or more fun; charisma that has broadened the appeal of bridge to non-players. Selections were not limited to ACBL members or North American residents.

Player of the Year + ACBL Player of the YearYearName2019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199519941993199219911990 The Player of the Year is awarded to the ACBL player accumulating the most platinum masterpointsPoints awarded in national-rated events with no upper masterpoint limit. in the calendar year.

Canadian Bridge Federation – Hall of Fame + CBF Hall of Fame Members († deceased)YearinductedNameCitationlink20102010 †201020102010 †20112011201120112011 †2012 †20122012 †2012 †20132013201320142014201520152016201620172017201820182019201920232023202420252025 The Canadian Bridge Federation (CBF) is the national bridge organization for Canada and established the CBF Hall of Fame in 2010 to recognize the achievements and contributions of Canadian bridge personalities.

European Bridge League – Awards and Distinctions The European Bridge League (EBL) is a confederation of national bridge organizations for European countries, established 1947. Honorary Titles Plaques Medals. Since 1975, the EBL recognizes distinguished bridge people."Medals". European Bridge League (EBL). Retrieved 2018-07-28.

+ Gold Medal Name Nationality YearAubry, YvesFrance2008Bardach, DavidIsrael1994Beineix, Jean-ClaudeFrance2010Butler, Geoffrey R.England1975 Damiani, José France1995De Pauw, MarcBelgium2010Jensen, Nils E.Sweden1987Kielbasinski, RadoslawPoland2006Kooijman, TonNetherlands2010Magerman, PaulBelgium2002Melander, MickeSweden2010Oliveira, Jose Manuel dePortugal2003 Ortiz-Patiño, Jaime England1983Pencharz, BillEngland1999Rona, GianarrigoItaly2010Torlontano, Anna MariaItaly1999

+ Silver Medal Name Nationality YearBardach, DavidIsrael1989Blanken-Burgers, MarijkeNetherlands2010Boekhorst, AndreNetherlands1989Frenkiel, MarianPoland1989Gerontopoulos, PanosGreece1991Helm, Emmy van derNetherlands1989Helm, Harry van derNetherlands1989Hodler, MarcSwitzerland1979Jensen, Nils E.Sweden1977Kramer, JutNetherlands1979Kunin, ReubenIsrael1985Latala, SlawekPoland2011Levy, EitanIsrael2012Melander, MickeSweden2004Oliveira, Jose Manuel dePortugal1999Parnis-England, MargaretMalta1999Pencharz, BillEngland1989Rohan, KarlAustria1989Torlontano, Anna MariaItaly1991Zabel, GunnarDenmark1977

+ Bronze Medal Name Nationality Year Auken, Sabine Germany2010Dix, MarioMalta1999Gruber, HansAustria1992Mattsson, GoranGermany 2010Resta, GuidoItaly2010Schroeder, DirkGermany2010Szappanos, GezaHungary2010Yanes, AurelianoSpain2001

World Bridge Federation – Awards and Distinctions The World Bridge Federation (WBF) is the world governing body for bridge, established in 1958. Women Stars WBF Master Point Records including titles such as "World Grand Master" (directory; some lists maintained infrequently or not at all) Medals (to 2006) Hall of Fame (inactive) Plaques & Trophies (to 2006) Youth Awards (to 2006)

People recognized in bridge books

Numerous biographical entries are contained in the Encyclopedia of Bridge (1935), the various editions of The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (1964–2011), The Bridge Players' Encyclopedia (1967), and in the British Bridge Almanack (2004).

In addition, the following books provide biographical information about bridge people as of the date of publication.

Aces All by Guy Ramsey (1955) In the foreword of Aces All, Ramsey writes that "it is a book about some, though by no means all, of the leading players of today and the immediate yesterday..." He presents biographies of the following (all either British or playing in Britain):

Leslie Dodds Harold Franklin Nico Gardener Maurice Harrison-Gray

Ewart Kempson Kenneth Konstam Richard Lederer Iain Macleod

Rixi Markus J. C. H. Marx Adam Meredith Terence Reese

Boris Schapiro Jim Sharples Bob Sharples S. J. (Skid) Simon

Dr. Paul Stern Joel Tarlo Louis Tarlo

The Bridge Immortals by Victor Mollo (1968) The Bridge Immortals gives brief biographies of the "greatest bridge people living today", listed here in alphabetical order.

Walter Avarelli B. Jay Becker Giorgio Belladonna David Berah Jean Besse Massimo D'Alelio Claude Deruy Leslie Dodds

Pietro Forquet Richard L. Frey Nico Gardener Benito Garozzo Fritzi Gordon Maurice Harrison-Gray Dorothy Hayden

Oswald Jacoby Pierre Jaïs Edgar Kaplan Norman Kay Theodore Lightner Paul Lukacs Rixi Markus

Adam Meredith Rafael Munoz Camillo Pabis Ticci Carl'Alberto Perroux Terence Reese Alvin Roth Boris Schapiro

Howard Schenken Cornelis Slavenburg Sam Stayman Roger Trézel Alan Truscott Egmont von Dewitz Einar Werner

World Class by Marc Smith (1999) World Class: conversations with the bridge masters features "the crème de la crème of the world of bridge" in their own words. Here is Smith's classification of his interviews.

All-time Greats: John Collings Benito Garozzo Bob Hamman Per Olof Sundelin Dorothy Hayden Truscott

Stars of Today: Gabriel Chagas Geir Helgemo Apolinary Kowalski Magnus Lindkvist Zia Mahmood Jeff Meckstroth Andrew Robson Alfredo Versace

Women Stars: Sabine Auken Maria Erhart Karen McCallum Nicola Smith

Rising Stars: Boye Brogeland Fred Gitelman Jason Hackett and Justin Hackett Morten Lund Madsen

Star Writers: Larry N. Cohen Eddie Kantar Ron Klinger Mike Lawrence

British Bridge Almanack by Peter Hasenson (2004) The Editor's Choice nominations are listed alphabetically as follows:

20 Greatest Players of All Time B. Jay Becker Giorgio Belladonna Norberto Bocchi Gabriel Chagas Billy Eisenberg Pietro Forquet Benito Garozzo Bob Hamman Maurice Harrison-Gray Geir Helgemo Oswald Jacoby Zia Mahmood Jeff Meckstroth Terence Reese Eric Rodwell Michael Rosenberg Howard Schenken Tim Seres Paul Soloway Bobby Wolff

19 Greatest Partnerships of the last 30 Years Cezary Balicki & Adam Żmudziński